The case against the 49-year-old - who trains one of the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup - was adjourned at Carrick-on-Suir District Court until after next month's Cheltenham festival.

Declan Molan, solicitor for Fenton, told the court he wished to make submissions "i n relation to the summonses themselves".

Judge Terence Finn granted four weeks to allow submissions to be written and filed with the prosecution.

"If the submissions affect this court's jurisdiction to deal with this matter that is a matter that has to be taken in advance," the judge said.

The case was adjourned until March 20.

The court was told 12 to 15 witnesses are expected to be called in the case, including one witness from France.

The trainer has horses in his yard for Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and has two leading contenders for the Cheltenham festival including Gold Cup hope Last Instalment, and former Champion Bumper Dunguib which has suffered a injury blighted racing career.

No plea has been entered and Fenton did not attend the brief hearing in Carrick-on-Suir courthouse.

The prosecution is being taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following an inspection of his yard on January 18, 2012.

John Ryan, junior counsel for the state, objected to the adjournment.

"It's only very recently we have heard anything about this. It's a very vague and nebulous thing, I say, to prevent the hearing of the matter that may or may not go to the jurisdiction of the case," Mr Ryan said.

Submissions from the defence must be submitted one week before the case is mentioned again in the District Court, the judge said.